Oil & Gas Benefit From Space Tech

‘Ti6-4' titanium is used to produce the hydrazine fuel tanks for the European Ariane 5 rocket, and when combined with the special ‘hot gas pressure forming' technique, the result is a strong and extremely corrosion-resistant structure. The same material and process could help in solving corrosion problems encountered in offshore underwater equipment.

Another spin-off with a big potential could come from the sensors carried by planetary landers to measure magnetic fields. This could lead to smaller sensors for oil and gas drilling tools that draw less power than those used today.

Underwater vehicles and manipulators used today in the oil and gas industry are remotely controlled by human operators. Robotic technology and techniques for docking spacecraft with millimetre-accuracy in orbit could be used to improve oil and gas exploration activities, concluded a recent study commissioned by ESA's Technology Transfer Programme Office. Europe's Automated Transfer Vehicle supply spacecraft approaches and docks with the International Space Station using visual recognition and autonomous positioning, while the ExoMars rover will explore the ‘Red Planet' without human guidance, even avoiding unforeseen obstacles.

These technologies can provide solutions for adding ‘intelligence' to offshore oil and gas underwater vehicles to work autonomously on tasks such as mapping the sea floor and inspection of installations.
Experts from space and offshore industry meet at the Space & Energy Seminar at ONS 2010 in Stavanger, Norway, this week to discuss how existing space technologies can help in offshore exploration, and how joint efforts can profit both.

Since its launch in 1974, the biennial ‘ONS' event has become one of the world's leading oil and energy meeting places. From its earlier focus on offshore technology and the Norwegian continental shelf, the event now covers the global energy industry.

ONS 2010 takes place in Stavanger, 24th to 27th August, with the Space & Energy Seminar on Wednesday 25 August.

The ‘Assessment of Robotic Technologies for Use in Oil and Gas Exploration' study can be requested using the link below.